George Family Center hosts Glass Art for Military Wellness program

This summer, military veterans and active-duty service members are finding healing and connection through the transformative power of art, thanks to a unique program offered by Rowan University’s George Family Center for Healing Arts.

The free initiative at WheatonArts in Millville invites participants to explore a range of glass art techniques, from glassblowing and fusing to stained glass and painting, during immersive two-day weekend workshops. The program, which runs over four weekends, was developed to promote creativity, camaraderie and emotional well-being among those who have served.

“The goal is to bring military people together to promote wellness,” said Morgan Yacoe, director of the George Family Center. “Glass is so tied to this region, and we wanted to honor that connection in a meaningful way.”

glass into precise shapes, layering vibrant pieces before firing them in kilns to fuse their designs.

As hands shaped glass, stories flowed — tales of service, sacrifice and shared experience.

“I helped track Soviet submarines along the Aleutian chain,” said Diane Miller, a retired Navy veteran from Mullica Hill. Miller, who served shortly after the Vietnam War, likened her work to a real-life version of “The Hunt for Red October.”

“It was pretty close,” she said. “We used high-tech equipment to track them.”

Ed Getley of Somerdale joined the Air Force in 1966 to avoid being drafted, only to discover a deep sense of purpose in military life. He served for 34 years, including deployments in the Middle East.

“They put me in intelligence and recruited me into officer training,” Getley recalled.

Among the attendees was Dr. James George, a retired emergency room physician and celebrated painter who donated $1 million in 2024 to establish the George Family Center. George, who turned to painting during his rehabilitation after a fall, observed how glass fusing required a different mindset than his abstract acrylics.

“I don’t make creative decisions until the very last second,” he said. “That’s when my mind picks colors and dictates what my hand will do.”

Finished pieces from the summer workshops will be showcased in an exhibition this November at Inspira Medical Center Vineland, offering a glimpse into the creativity and resilience of the veteran community.

Retired Navy Captain Kathy Henley of Cinnaminson, who also attended the June session, emphasized the emotional value of the experience. “Whenever you meet veterans, you meet family you never knew you had,” she said. “You always have something in common.”

Pamela Weichmann, director of Education & Artist Services at WheatonArts, said the “transformative power of the arts to foster healing, connection and personal growth” cannot be overstated.

“Partnering with the George Family Center to support veterans through glass art is an extension of our mission to create meaningful experiences that uplift individuals and strengthen communities,” Weichmann said. “Veterans bring a spirit of resilience and camaraderie to the WheatonArts studios that enriches the experience for everyone.” 

The George Family Center for Healing Arts offers a variety of community-centered programs that blend art and wellness. They include:

• Artist-in-Residence at Rowan Medicine – Integrates artists into clinical environments at RowanMedicine to instill creativity, connection, and healing.
• ArtWiseRx – An arts prescribing program connecting individuals to creative activities, cultural experiences, and nature to support health and well-being.
• Healing Arts in Education – Integrating artistic disciplines into undergraduate and medical education initiatives prepare students and professionals to creatively engage in healthcare, explore the role of the arts in healing, and promote well-being across diverse settings.
• Healing Arts Research Lab – A cross-disciplinary team of medical students, undergraduates, and faculty studying how the arts impact health outcomes, well-being, and medical education.
• Healing Arts & Emergency Medicine Mentorship Program – A unique program bridging emergency medicine and the arts, providing mentorship, reflection and creative skill-building.

Learn more about the George Family Center and its programs.